Focus of Research :
- Pollution monitoring
- Conservation of critical marine habitats and sea cucumbers
- Impacts of extreme weather events
Background :
I started my research career as a fish and fishery science discipline scientist after passing through the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at the Tuticorin Research Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) Tuticorin in 1996. Initially, I was in the fisheries environment and management division and was involved in marine fisheries' environment management projects. I did my PhD in 2005 from Manonmanium Sundernar University, Tamil Nadu, for the studies entitled " Reproductive aspects, larval and juvenile rearing of sea cucumber Holothuria (Theelothuria ) spinifera Theel. My PhD thesis has won the Government of India's coveted Jawaharlal Nehru award for outstanding PhD thesis in fisheries science 2007. I have 28 years of service and currently hold the post of Principal Scientist and the Scientist–in–Charge of the Tuticorin Regional Station of CMFRI. I have done extensive research in various fields, such as sea cucumber breeding, culture, taxonomy, population, and conservation. I also contributed to multiple aspects of marine pollution monitoring, studies on environmental impact assessment, climate change, hydrobiology, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthos and sea birds of the Gulf of Mannar area. I have handled 15 institute-funded and two externally-funded projects.
Education :
- PhD 2006 Manonmanium Sundernar University
- MSc 1994 Marine Biology, Cochin University
- BSc 1991 Zoology, University of Kerala
Current Research Projects :
No | Title | Funded By |
1 | Impacts of extreme weather events on marine fisheries in selected ecosystems of Northern Indian Ocean – A geoinformatics approach | CMFRI |
2 | Impact of coastal marine pollution on the ecosystem’s health, biodiversity and mitigation | CMFRI |
3 | Marine macrophytes in India –Resources dynamics and ecosystem services | ICAR |
Awards & Recognitions :
- 2007 Jawaharlal Nehru Award for best PhD thesis from ICAR
- 2011 Best t presentation award for the article in Hindi in the National Scientific Seminar on Biodiversity at CMFRI, Kochi.
- Selected as a member in the Beche-de-mer special interest group, New Caledonia.
- Represented India in the international the workshop on “ Sea Cucumber Fisheries an Ecosystem Approach to management in the Indian Ocean organized by FAO and WIOMSA at Zanzibar of Tanzania during the period 12-16 Nov’2012 .
Publications:
Best 5 Publications :
1.Asha, P.S., K. Diwakar, H. Sivanesh and P. Kaladharan: 2023. Abundance and distribution of subsurface microfibres and seabed macrolitter in Thoothukudi, Gulf of Mannar, South-east coast of India. J. Environ. Biol., 44, 401-408.
2.Asha, P.S. Diwakar K, Santhanavalli, G and Mary K.Manissery., 2015 Comparative distribution and habitat preference of the sea cucumber Holothuria atra Jaeger at protected and un protected sites in Thoothukudi region of Gulf of Mannar,south-east coast of India. Indian.J.Fish., 62 (1) 52-57.
3.Asha, P.S and K.Diwakar 2007. Hydrobiology of coastal and inshore waters off Tuticorin in the Gulf of Mannar, India. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. India, 49 (1) : 07-11.
4.Asha, P.S and P.Muthiah 2007. Growth of the hatchery produced juveniles of the sea cucumber Holothuria spinifera Theel. Aquaculture research. 38 (10) 1082 – 1088.
5.Asha, P.S and P.Muthiah 2005 Effect of temperature, salinity and pH on the larval growth, survival and development of the sea cucumber Holothuria spinifera. Theel. Aquaculture, 250 (3&4): 823-829.
